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Big Bash League: Kevin Pietersen lashes Cricket Australia for not releasing Marcus Stoinis

Jon Pierik

Kevin Pietersen has taken aim at Cricket Australia, claiming it has reneged on a promise to free all-rounder Marcus Stoinis from international duty for Saturday night's pivotal Big Bash League clash against the Sydney Sixers.

And in a further poke of the revamped Australian side, he says the stars of the summer have been the Big Bash League players, according to a social-media poll he conducted.

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As reported by Fairfax Media, the Stars had been hopeful Stoinis - one of their five players in the Australian one-day international squad - would have been allowed to return for the BBL clash at the MCG, should he not be needed for Sunday's clash against Pakistan at the SCG.

The Australians flew from Perth to Sydney on Friday, and won't name their side for the fourth one-day international until Saturday at the earliest. Stoinis and leg-spinner Adam Zampa had been the latest Stars to join the Australian squad on Wednesday. Neither played in Perth, but Zampa will front a press conference on Saturday, all but confirming he will play against Pakistan on Sunday.

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Pietersen, while announcing a fund-raising project for another his passions, saving the rhino, took aim at CA on Friday for not releasing Stoinis. "I just find it bitterly disappointing that a guy can't play in a fixture tomorrow, which is a big fixture for us. He will be sitting in a hotel room," he said.

"Stoinis might not play on Sunday, he certainly would play for us tomorrow (Saturday). I find it bitterly disappointing he can't play for the Stars.

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"We were told he was going to play. Now he has been pulled out of our set-up, which I find strange and, on a personal level, I am really disappointed because a guy like him, and I am working with him on personal level to improve his game, so that he can actually benefit Australian cricket, which he could do on Sunday if we spend more time together but he is not going to be here. I don't understand the reasons."

CA would not comment on Pietersen's comments. While it's believed there are no injuries in the Australian side, it has been pointed out Stoinis could yet play against Pakistan.

Stoinis was dismissed for a duck and finished with 0-27 in the seven-wicket loss to the Brisbane Heat on Tuesday. He had taken 1-28 and made 40 not out in the win over the Scorchers last weekend.

Pietersen, a former England captain no longer involved in the international side, then declared the BBL, enjoying big crowds and strong television ratings, had been the high point of the summer. Asked about the clash of scheduling, he replied: "The Australian cricketers want to play the Big Bash. I put a poll out the other day asking the public, who are the stars of the summer? The public said the Big Bash stars are the stars of the summer, so you do the maths."

As of Friday night, almost 8600 votes had been cast on his Twitter account, with the BBL enjoying 63 per cent of responses.  The second-placed Stars will face the Sixers needing to win to rubber-stamp a berth in next week's semi-finals. Victory should also deliver a home final but a heavy loss could see them fall out of the top four, depending on other results. While Stoinis will be missed, Pietersen insists the Stars have the depth to cover for their absent regulars, although that was questionable against the Heat in a performance Pietersen described as "rubbish".

"Because we have done so well with guys leaving our squad over the last couple of seasons - we have actually won quite a few games and got to the finals of last year - it hasn't hit us as hard because we have such a great team spirit," he said.

"It doesn't matter if you don't play a game, if you are on the bench the whole season, you are as well respected as someone like me who comes in and plays most of the games, or Luke Wright or David Hussey. There is no nonsense in the dressing room." 

Pietersen's quest to save the rhino will again be on display with the Stars donning special shirts to be signed and auctioned after the match. The Stars and Optus will donate $1 to Remembering Rhinos and Rhinos in Safe Hands for each attendee, while Pietersen's bat will feature designs by children.